President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR has signed the instruments of accession for six Conventions of the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
This action paves the way for Nigeria to officially deposit these instruments of accesion at the IMO headquarters, which serves as the repository for such conventions.
Instruments of accessions are binding agreements between signatory states on the topics outlined in the convention document, which a state deposits at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) headquarters in London to formally accept a treaty previously negotiated and signed by other states.
This move is expected to enhance Nigeria’s maritime governance and align its practices with international standards, promoting maritime safety, security, and environmental protection.
The six instruments signed by President Tinubu are the “Instrument of Accession of the Protocol of 2005 to the 1988 Protocol for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Fixed Platforms on the Continental Shelf.
“The Instrument of Accession of the International Convention of Standards of Training, Certification, and See-keeping for Fishing Vessel Personnel 1995;
“The Instrument of Accession of the Protocol Relating to Intervention on the High Seas in cases of Pollution by Substances other than Oil, 1973 as amended.
“The Instrument of Accession to the Protocol of 1996 to Amend the Convention on Limitation of Liability for Maritime Claims (LLMC) 1976.
“The Instrument of Accession to the Protocol to the 1974 Athens Convention Relating to the Carriage of Passengers and Their Luggage by Sea, 2002.
“The Instrument of Accession to the Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships, 2009”.
The Director-General of NIMASA, Dr. Dayo Mobereola while formally presenting the instruments expressed his gratitude to the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola for facilitating the signing of the IMO conventions by the President after several years of being pending in the Ministry.
He said, “These six instruments have been lying within the Ministry for the last 6 to 8 years, and thanks to the efforts of the Honorable Minister, they have now been assented to by the President.
“This is a landmark achievement for Nigeria, as the IMO will soon update our records to recognize these instruments”.
On his part, Oyetola reassured stakeholders of the President’s commitment to developing the Nigerian maritime industry in line with global best practices.
By signing these instruments of accession, the President has reaffirmed this administration’s determination to take its rightful position among the comity of maritime nations and a leading member of the decision-making body of the IMO.
The deposit of these six instruments of ratification will be carried out by the supervising Ministry, and NIMASA.